Evaluation of the Effect of Vascular Photobiomodulation in Sleep Bruxism of Children and Adolescents: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Natalia Osorio Viarengo
Universidad Católica del Uruguay (UCU), Montevideo, Uruguay, South America and Postgraduate Programme in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo, Brazil.
Ana Paula Taboada Sobral
School of Dentistry, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, Brazil and Postgraduation Programme in Health and Environment, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, Brazil.
Marcela Leticia Leal Gonçalves
School of Dentistry, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, Brazil and Postgraduation Programme in Health and Environment, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, Brazil.
Laura Hermida Bruno
Universidad Católica del Uruguay (UCU), Montevideo, Uruguay, South America and Postgraduation Programme in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo, Brazil.
Ana Laura Fossati
Universidad Católica del Uruguay (UCU), Montevideo, Uruguay, South America and Postgraduation Programme in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo, Brazil.
María Roxana Ferreira Sertaje
Universidad Católica del Uruguay (UCU), Montevideo, Uruguay, South America and Postgraduation Programme in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo, Brazil.
Elaine Marcilio Santos
School of Dentistry, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, Brazil and Postgraduation Programme in Health and Environment, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, Brazil.
Ivana Meyer Prado
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Raquel Agnelli Mesquita-Ferrarib
Postgraduation Programme in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo, Brazil.
Kristianne Porta Santos Fernandes
Postgraduation Programme in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo, Brazil.
Anna Carolina Ratto Tempestini Horliana
Postgraduation Programme in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo, Brazil.
Lara Jansiski Motta
Postgraduation Programme in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo, Brazil.
Sandra Kalil Bussadori *
Postgraduate Programme in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo, Brazil, School of Dentistry, Universidade Metropolitana de Santos, Santos, Brazil and Postgraduation Programme in Biophotonics Applied to Health Sciences, Universidade Nove de Julho, São Paulo, Brazil.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objective: To assess the effect of the vascular photobiomodulation, also known as intravascular laser irradiation of blood (ILIB), combined with myofunctional exercises for the treatment of sleep bruxism in children and adolescents through a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Materials and methods: Forty-six individuals with a diagnosis of bruxism between three and seventeen years of age were included. The participants were assessed before and after treatment with the aid of questionnaires addressing sleep bruxism and sleep quality as well as the measure of nocturnal oxygen saturation. The participants were divided into two groups: G1 (ILIB) and G2 (control). G1 received active ILIB combined with an orofacial myofunctional exercise protocol. G2 received sham ILIB and the exercise protocol. Ten-minute active/sham laser sessions were held at a frequency of once a week for four weeks. After each active/sham laser session, myofunctional therapy was performed and the participants were instructed to continue the exercises for five minutes twice a day.
Results: Improvements were found in swallowing, breathing, and chewing among all patients in both groups, with no significant difference between groups. The reduction in bruxism was significantly greater (p < 0.05) in G1 (ILIB) compared to G2 (control). A weak to nil linear relationship between bruxism and oxygen saturation was found in both groups.
Conclusion: ILIB favored a reduction in bruxism but was not decisive in improving orofacial functions, such as breathing, swallowing, and chewing. However, orofacial myofunctional therapy was effective at reducing conditions related to this sleep disorder.
Keywords: Bruxism, intravascular irradiation of blood, myofunctional therapy, oximetry, photobiomodulation